April – Dog fouling

How we can help tackle it by working with your community.

Our community team officers are your first point of contact to raise issues relating to dog fouling. Persistent dog fouling can be tackled – with your support. Witness reports can help us identify the culprits. You can report anyone you see failing to clean up after their dog using our online form. Please give as much information as possible to help us take action. If we can identify the offender, we can give a verbal or written warning or take formal action including prosecution. Remember it’s no excuse to be unaware your dog has fouled.

Throughout April we will be reminding dog owners of the penalties for failing to pick up after their pooch – and encouraging reporting of this to us.

We’re planning to work with the Dogs Trust to stage community events to promote responsible dog ownership. We need to identify suitable venues (for example community centres or village halls) in Malton, Norton, Pickering, Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside. To suggest a potential venue they could use please email . We can also approach nearby schools to offer Dogs Trust visits to spread the responsible dog owner message. These events will offer a free dog healthcheck, free poo bags, free on the spot microchipping and a free check your chip service.

The Dogs Trust will also have information about:

The change in the law regarding compulsory microchipping

The legal requirement of keeping the microchip owner information up to date

The legal requirement for collar and tag

The legal requirement to pick up after your dog

The importance of proper training/socialisation to prevent anti-social behaviour

How to be safe around dogs

They will also provide health and wellbeing advice including promoting the importance of:

We’re looking for a proactive parish council who would like to sign up to a green dog walker scheme. This scheme encourages responsible dog walkers to act as village wardens – they’ll tie a green ribbon to their dog lead to identify them as walkers who have spare dog poo bags. They’ll also report any dog walkers who don’t pick up after their dog to Ryedale District Council. To find out more please email .